The AL Central-leading White Sox, who also received cash in the deal, have been looking for a third baseman because Brent Morel has been plagued by back problems.

The Red Sox will absorb all but $2 million of the $7.8 million still owed to Youkilis, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney.

“There is no way we are not a better team with Kevin Youkilis,” White Sox captain Paul Konerko said. “He is just too good of a player and has been through all the wars and is still relatively a young guy. We just have to keep him on the field. If that is the case, it could be one of the bigger steals of the season.”

Will Middlebrooks’ emergence in Boston made Youkilis expendable after a successful 8½-year run with the Red Sox. The versatile All-Star, who can play both corner infield spots, is a career .286 hitter with 133 homers and 563 RBIs.

“I think we were trying to find a solution that worked for everyone,” Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said. “Kevin’s been an everyday player since he’s been here, and with the way Middlebrooks has been playing, Middlebrooks needs to be in the lineup. That’s pretty clear.”

The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled defenseman Slater Koekkoek from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced. Koekkoek, 21, has skated in 66 ga